"The Joy of Life Is Found In The Pursuit of Love..."

The last 7 months I've been on a journey. . .  a journey of discovering what LIFE is all about. Needless to say before I plunged into this new chapter of my life I thought that I knew full well what I was doing with my life. I thought I was fully content with where I was but it was soon after that I began to realize otherwise. . .

My life was turned upside down and right side up as I began to experience the incomprehensible LOVE of the man Christ Jesus. Little did I know that this man whom I had given my life to at age 7 would soon become the One who would steal my affections, reissue the desires of my heart, and give my life purpose yet again. Though this process has been one of dying to self and taking the low-road of humility, my heart is being made alive. I can't help but follow His beckoning call on my life, no matter the cost, no matter what man may say of me.

Daily the reality of what true love looks like is being revealed to my heart. I'm faced with the paradox that" to live is Christ and to die is gain." I'm learning that my flesh will never desire the things of God but the more I sow to my spirit the more joy of communing with Him becomes. I'm learning that all He asks of me is to share the sufferings of His heart. I'm learning that my weak "yes" wins His heart every time; that I no longer have to strive for perfection and that all He is asking for is for me to come as I am. I'm learning that He delights in giving me the desires of my heart and the more I'm hidden in Him the more delight I feel. I'm learning that He knows what I need even before I ask and He is true to His promises in giving me "above and beyond what I could ever ask for or imagine." And this is just to name a few. . .

I am so incredibly grateful for His intervention in my life. He saw the desperation in my heart, my cry for more, and was faithful to answer me. As Paul said so well "I press on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." I will close with these lyrics by Sarah Edwards, which mirror my heart posture before the Lord in this season of my life. . .

"Obey"

Your burden it is easy and Your yoke it is light.
You are meek and lowly, You are gentle, You are kind.
Every one of your commands they lead my heart to life.
When I obey I find life.

So teach me all Your ways O God,
Please show me Your paths.
Come unite my heart to fear Your name.
Let there be no sin in me
That would keep me from this prize.
Because I love I will obey

It's my joy to love,
It's my joy to obey.
You can have all my heart,
You can have all my praise.
I will give you my life.
I will run hard this race,
Reaching for the prize.
I am Yours-
You are mine.

I will run in the path of Your commands
You will surely enlarge my heart.
I will make Your law daily my delight.
Let me not wander from Your ways
Let it be my delight to obey,
There is no greater joy than knowing Your name